WHEN SOMEONE DIES

Tell family and friends as soon as possible, especially if you are on your own.

Immediate support is comforting, and having help with making the practical arrangements takes pressure off you.

If family need to travel, the sooner they can start making arrangements, the better.

When a death occurs at home

If the death happens at home, and was expected, you should phone the doctor as soon as possible so they can verify the death and confirm that they can sign the necessary medical certificate(s).

Once these have been signed, and on your instructions, we can then transfer your loved one into our care.

Death in a Hospital, Hospice or Rest Home

If the death occurs in a hospital, hospice or rest home the staff will contact the doctor to issue a “Medical Certificate of Cause of Death” and a cremation certificate if required. The nursing staff will also notify the next of kin and family members. When you are ready, you can contact us to organise the transfer and a time to meet with you.

When a death is referred to the Coroner

When an unexpected death occurs in the home, hospital or in a public place then the death may need to be referred to the Coroner’s office.

Any accidental deaths or those that are considered to have been from unnatural causes will always be referred to the Coroner. In these cases, the police will need to be involved – you can contact them though the emergency services phone number: 111.

If the Coroner is involved

In cases where the cause of death is not obvious, the doctor or police will notify the Coroner. The Coroner will carry out further investigative work to determine the cause of death. When this has been completed, the deceased will then be released to the family to arrange the funeral. You will need to inform the Coroner’s office that you wish to make use of our services, and they will then send us through the necessary paperwork.

If you are still unsure, you can contact us anytime on 03 455 2128 and we can talk you through what you need to do….